It’s 7 June and it’s World Food Safety Day, the day people all around the world remind themselves of the importance of food safety and the role we can all play in preventing, detecting and managing foodborne illness.  Hundreds of events have been organized worldwide at the local level up to the regional and international levels. Food industry workers, experts and consumers from schools, NGOs, local and national governments, private companies and academic institutions are taking up the challenge to learn about and spread knowledge about how we can all ensure food is safe to eat - for everyone, everywhere. Four global...

The Food Safety Magazine has published an article penned by Corinna Hawkes, Director of the Food Systems and Food Safety Division. The piece, entitled, Sound science is the foundation of food standards that save lives, is a nod to the theme for this year’s World Food Safety Day, Food standards save lives. The article speaks about the importance of World Food Safety Day, describes how such a day came into being and the vital role that FAO plays in maintaining food safety across the global agrifood systems. In keeping with this year’s World Food Safety Day theme, the piece elaborates on...

Last week missions to validate the data gathered on the food control systems in the island nations of Comoros and Seychelles were conducted by two teams of international consultants as part of an ongoing two-year project to strengthen governance around food safety and plant health in 11 African Union countries.   The project, funded by the European Union and spearheaded by a team of experts from FAO, began activities last November in the Union of Comoros and Seychelles where focal points underwent a series of trainings on the food  control system assessment tool and on the process of collecting...

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has released three publications reviewing scientific literature on the effects of regulated substances (residues of pesticides and veterinary drugs) and non-regulated compounds (microplastics) on the gut microbiome and health from a food safety perspective. This upcoming webinar will present the main findings of these reviews, focusing on their relevance for food safety risk assessment. Following the presentation, a panel discussion will take place. Speakers will include: Moderator: Catherine Bessy – Senior Food Safety Officer, Food and Agriculture Organization Presenter: Carmen Díaz-Amigo – Food Safety Specialist, Food and Agriculture Organization Technical panel: Karel Callens – Senior...

Twenty-one scientists from nine different African countries (Benin, Cameroon, Eswatini, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Zambia, Zimbabwe) convened on 21-25 May at the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) in Accra, Ghana, to launch a new wave ofdiagnostic...

Last week, Keya Mukherjee was among three former students of the Texas A&M University, United States of America, to receive an Outstanding Early Career Alumni Award by the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. This award, established in 2012, recognizes former students who have made exceptional contributions in their career within 15 years of graduation. Mukherjee graduated with a PhD in Biochemistry from Texas A&M University in 2018. The call for nominees attracts candidates from across the United States of America and beyond, and the selection is made through a long, rigorous process. Mukherjee coordinates the FAO Food Systems and Food...

On Wednesday, 7 June 2023, FAO is partnering with the World Health Organization, the World Food Programme and others to hold a series of events that also be accessible online. Please join us to celebrate World Food Safety Day. The day-long celebration will include the following events:   Time: 11.00-12.00 CEST (Rome time) Assessing food safety and plant health in 11 countries in Africa: a panel discussion (FAO, International Plant Protection Convention Secretariat, European Union) Hear from the team and the funders of this promising new project. What are the aims and who will benefit? Download programme   Time: 12.15-13.30 CEST World Food Safety Day high-level event (FAO,...

Ensuring food safety and plant health are intrinsically linked and critical elements to achieving the UN 2030 Agenda, as evidenced by the project "Strengthening food control and phytosanitary capacities and governance." Funded by the European Union and led by a team of FAO and IPPC experts, 11 African Union Member countries are conducting rigorous assessments to better understand how to improve their food control and phytosanitary systems. Please join us in celebrating the International Day of Plant health with various events and activities planned. Click here to find out more. Read more about the food safety and...

A webinar on 11 May 2023 provided insights into how countries and international organizations can ensure that food labels and standards contribute to sustainable agrifood systems. Food labelling, which helps protect consumer health by providing safety and good nutrition information, was highlighted as one of the tools for transforming agrifood systems, along with standards, in the webinar convened by the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub. The keynote speaker, Renate Künast, Member of the German Bundestag and former Minister of Consumer Protection, Food and Agriculture, shared three examples of using a systematic approach to instigate change: labels on food products that provide...

FAO began a project last month to pave the way towards improving the food control system in the Republic of Uganda. A 5-million-euro project funded by the European Union, "Strengthening of Capacities and Governance in Food and Phytosanitary Control,” is set to provide technical support and work with Competent Authorities and other leading institutions in 11 countries that are Members of the African Union to build up capabilities, strengthen governance and improve strategic planning around two main components: food safety and plant health. As part of the food safety component, an assessment of the national food control system will be...